Device for examining inner pressure resistance of glass bottle

ABSTRACT

A device for examining breaking resistance of a glass bottle by applying inner pressure thereto. The device includes endless conveying means for repeatedly transferring pressure fluid ejection head groups at equal spaces to a bottle examination zone provided on the path along which bottle to be examined are conveyed and conveyors for transferring the bottles synchronizing with the movement of the pressure fluid ejection head groups in the examination zone, each pressure ejection head including a vertically movable nozzle connected to a pressurizing fluid source and a packing capable of rapidly resiliently deforming and bulging out at one end of the nozzle. When the nozzle is inserted into the bottle, the bottle mouth is sealed by the packing which resiliently bulges outwardly, and a valve for a pressurizing fluid passageway is opened to fill the bottle with pressure fluid.

United States Patent [191 Yasuhiro et al.

1 Apr. 29, 1975 1 DEVICE FOR EXAMINING INNER PRESSURE RESISTANCE 0FGLASS BOTTLE [75] Inventors: Tomita Yasuhiro. Nishinomiya;

Nakayama Katsutoshi, ltami. both of Japan [73] Assignee: Yamamura GlassKabushiki Kaisha,

Hyogo. Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 399,804

Primary ExaminerS. Clement Swisher Attorney. Agent. or FirmH0lman &Stern [57] ABSTRACT A device for examining breaking resistance of aglass bottle by applying inner pressure thereto. The device includesendless conveying means for repeatedly transferring pressure fluidejection head groups at equal spaces to a bottle examination zoneprovided on the path along which bottle to be examined are conveyed andconveyors for transferring the bottles synchronizing with the movementof the pressure fluid ejection head groups in the examination zone. eachpressure ejection head including a vertically movable nozzle connectedto a pressurizing fluid source and a packing capable of rapidlyresiliently deforming and bulging out at one end of the nozzle. When thenozzle is inserted into the bottle. the bottle mouth is sealed by thepacking which resiliently bulges outwardly. and a valve for apressurizing fluid passageway is opened to till the bottle with pressurefluid.

8 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPREQIHYS I 3.879.987

Shit EL:-

Fig.1

PMENTEU APR 2 9 I975 SHEET 3 BF 9 m. N wm/ 8- 8 8 84 0 D U q U D .u n. 9h 0 O 0 0 m N. m m? p x. O O HON m U m F a o o 0 m. U Q r w m o o o o wfi F u H n J q: T m 8 T mm mm 8 Q i a 5 8 8 8 QFWMWI O H P-M l Q W mm aup PATENTEUAPRZSIQYS SHEET 7 BF 9 Fig PATENTEU 3.879.987

SHEET 8 OF 9 Fig.12

DEVICE FOR EXAMINING INNER PRESSURE RESISTANCE OF GLASS BOTTLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A filler simulator for reducing the numberof cases where glass bottles are broken when being filled with liquid ona filling machine is well known. But since this device is operated underthe range of low air pressure not exceeding the stress limit ofa bottleand within the range of a pressure of vertical load. the device cannotfunction as a compression testing machine.

Glass bottles for pressurized beverages such as carbonated beverages.beer or the like are liable to break and are often dangerous to a personwhen the bottles have even very small flaws or undergo changes byeffects of years or sudden changes in environmental temperature.

In order to avoid the danger of the kind described. it is only necessaryto pour pressure fluid into a bottle and make a so-called hydraulic testas a means of examining the pressure resistance of the bottle. but inthe prior art hydraulic test method a packing was provided on the fluidinjection head to seal the mouth of the bottle. and the bottle mouth wasvertically pressed and sealed. and hence the bottle was subjected tovertical load.

This load is an outer force having nothing to do with the inner pressurethe bottle receives from the content fluid. and accordingly the methodhas the disadvantage that the correct results of the inner pressureexamination are not obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device forexamining the inner pressure resistance ofa glass bottle and moreparticularly to a device for examining the inner pressure resistance ofa bottle for a pressurized liquid such as carbonated beverages. beer.and the like.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a device for exactlyexamining the inner pressure resistance of a glass bottle by filling thebottle with fluid pressure under the same conditions as those underwhich the bottle is broken by a mere increase in its inner pressure inthe described resistance examination of a bottle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device capable ofautomatically making the pressure resistance examination of a glassbottle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device capable ofefficiently and within a short time examining a large number of glassbottles to be filled with liquid.

According to this invention, groups of pressure fluid injection headsare successively and repeated fed at equal pitch in an examination zonehaving a certain distance over the travelling path of bottles to beexamined, and a means of transporting the bottles is designed totransport bottles in synehronism with the pitch of movement of thegroups of heads. According to the embodiment of the invention. thepressure fluid injection heads are horizontally moved by an endlessmoving means from the starting point of the examination zone to thefinal point thereof.

Each of the pressure fluid injection heads according to the invention isprovided with a nozzle connected to an examination pressure fluid tank.The nozzle is fitted with an annular packing on the outer circumferenceof the portion which is inserted into the mouth of the bottle to beexamined. The packing is squeezed on the outer circumference of thenozzle by forces axially opposing each other. so that the packing isradially and resiliently deformed to seal the mouth of the glass bottle.

The nozzle is also provided with a valve for a supply passageway fromthe examination pressure fluid tank. After the bottle mouth has beensealed with the packing. the fluid pressure is charged into the bottleuntil predetermined pressure is obtained.

Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from adescription of the embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a front view showing an embodiment of this invention withparts partially broken away for clearness;

FIG. 2 shows the principal part of the examination zone in section, thescrew conveyor that transports glass bottles being shown in anonsectional view;

FIG. 3 is mainly a plan view of the examination zone of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 to 6 are sectional views showing the respective operationalstates of the pressure fluid injection heads with only one of pluralelements shown and the others omitted for clearness;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the head;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the arrangement of the guide rails forthe head;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing. in part. the state of connection ofeach each head to a distributing valve for feeding fluid to the head;

FIGS. I0 and 11 are the respective sectional views of distributingvalves for feeding pressure air for upwardlymoving the nozzle andpressure applying fluid as seen along line Vl-Vl and line VIIVII of FIG.9; and

FIGS. I2 and I3 are front and plan views showing. in part. the drivingsystems of the respective conveying means for the heads and bottles tobe examined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to a preferredembodiment of the invention in conjunction with the drawings, thenumeral I designates examination head means which will later bedescribed and which will hereinafter be called head means; 2 a conveyingmeans comprising chain conveyors having a plurality of heads 1- at equalspaces. for example, endless chain conveyors 3, 3, and 3 disposedparallelly. the respective chains 30. 3a and 3a of said chain conveyorshaving head holders mounted thereto, said holders 4 being mounted at aspecified pitch in large numbers and each having several lines of headmeans I secured thereto. said means 1 being moved to an examination zone5 one after another. The numerals 6 and 7 designate a pair of sprocketswhich are spanned with a chain 3a of the conveyor. The numeral 8designates a frame of a conveying means for transporting the glassbottles 9 to be examined to an examination zone, said frame including aconveyor I0 for transporting the glass bottles 9 to be examined in theexamination zone. a conveyor II for feeding the bottles 9 to saidconveyor I0, and a conveyor 12 for receiving the examined glass bottles9 from said conveyor l0 and removing the same from the examination zone.The conveyor 10 comprises a conveyor a for transporting the glassbottles 9 and a screw conveyor 10b for correcting the arrangement of thebottles 9 at spaces adapted to the pitch in the direction of conveyanceof said head means l. said bottles 9 being positioned by the side ofconveying path on that side of the conveyor 1011 from which the bottles9 to be examined enter and on which the bottles 9 are pushed to be insuccession placed in a manner of packed sardines.

The screw conveyor 10!) corrects the spaces at which the bottles 9 to beexamined are lined and synchronizes the spacing of the bottles 9 withthe conveying means 2 of the head means 1 and feeds the bottles 9 intimed relation with the moving ofthe head means 1 which are conveyed. Tothis end. the conveyor 101: can maintain the state in which one headmeans 1 corresponds within the limits of the examination zone to onebottle 9 to be examined as long as the conveyor 10a is driven at thesame speed as that at which the head means 1 are transferred by theconvying means 2. As shown. the conveying means 2 and conveyor 100 aredisposed laterally so as to be in vertically parallel relation with eachother to use a bottle conveying path provided between the means 2 andthe conveyor [0 as the examination zone 5. Also. in the embodimentillustrated. the examination heads I are plurally mounted to each holder4 and conveying means are also disposed in plural rows correspondinglythereto. and the pressure resistance examination that will be describedhereinafter is simultaneously made in each row.

The foregoing head means 1 include therein a vertically movable nozzlel4 (FIGS. 4 to 6) connected to a pressure fluid source [3 (FIG. 3) inthe structure that will be described hereinafter. On the outercircumference of that portion of the lower end of the nozzle 14 which isinserted into the bottle 9 is mounted an annular packing l5, and apacking squeezing means 16 for squeezing the annular packing on theouter circumference of the nozzle 14 in the axial direction of thepacking l5. deforming the packing l5 and bulging the samecircumferentially by the upward movement of the nozzle I4 is provided aswill later be described. Furthermore. the head means 1 includes a nozzleupwardly moving means for upwardly moving the nozzle 14 by the actuationof fluid pressure while the head means is in the examination zone. avalve means 19 for opening a pressurizing fluid supply conduit 18 forapplication of pressure to the nozzle by the upward movement of thenozzle 14, and a bottle guide 21 for opening a working air supplyconduit for upward movement of the nozzle by being pressed against thebottle 9 when the nozzle I4 is inserted into the glass bottle 9.

The nozzle 14 is vertically movably provided within the cylinder 22adisposed in the head body 22 of the head means I. the upper end ofthenozzle 14 being enabled to extend into a connection port 23 of thesupply conduit 18 formed on the upper head 22b of the cylinder 22a, andthe nozzle end [4a on the lower end being provided in the form of aninsertion part which projects below a lower sleeve 22c ofthe cylinder22:: and which is adapted to be inserted into the mouth of the bottle 9,and being provided on the outer circumference thereof with the annularpacking 15. Also. the nozzle 14 is formed with a piston portion 14b inone part of the area within the cylinder portion 22a, and is movedupward within the head body 22 by the working of the fluid pressureimparted to the piston portion l4b by the supply of working fluid (to belater described) to the space between the piston portion 14b and thelower sleeve 22c of the cylinder 221:. so that the upper end of thenozzle 14 projects into said connection portion 23. The numeral 25designates a spring adapted to urge the nozzle downward. The head body22 is supported vertically movably within the sleeve number of a seat 26secured to said holder 44. and is adapted to insert the nozzle 14 bybeing lowered from the seat 26 (to be later described) into that bottle9 on the conveyor 10a to which the head body 22 corresponds.Furthermore, the head body 22 is urged to move upward by a spring 27based on the holder 4.

The packing squeezing means 16 is made up of said nozzle 14 in the formofa movable member. said member having a stepped portion 28 formedtherein to receive said annular packing 15 from below, and said lowersleeve 220 of the cylinder portion 220 in the form of a fixed member.said fixed member being fitted over the outer circumference of thenozzle 14 and having the lower end thereof pressed against the upper endof the annular packing IS. The upward movement of the nozzle [4 withrespect to the head body 22 squeezes the annular packing 15 in theaxial. i.e. vertical direction of the nozzle 14 between the steppedportion 28 and the lower end of the lower sleeve 22: and deforms thepacking l5 circumferentially and expands the diameter of the packing l5resiliently.

A nozzle raising member is designed to move the nozzle l4 upwardly bysupplying the cylinder portion 2241 with pressure air by means ofacompressor 29 (FIG. 3) through a distributing valve 30 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 9and [0) from a pressure air supply conduit 20 through a port 200 and aport 39 formed in the cylinder portion 221:. The distributing valve 30comprises a drum and a nonrotatable valve body in the drum 30a, saiddrum 30a having a plurality of connecting ports 31 leading to the airsupply conduits 20 for upwardly moving the nozzle and rotating inconjunction with the movement of the head means 1. A design concerningthe position between the drum 30a and valve body 30b in the distributingvalve 30 makes it possible to bring connecting ports 31 corresponding toa plurality of head means 1 positioned in the examination zone intocommunication with said compressor 29 through the valve body 30b whilethe head means I are being positioned in the examination zone. therebymaking it possible for the nozzle upwardly moving means to carry outtimely operation.

Valve means 19, in the connecting port 23 formed in the upper head 22bof the cylinder portion 220. includes a spring 32 and a ball 34 designedto normally close that hole 33 at the upper end of the nozzle 14 whichopposes the connecting port 23 by a depression force of the spring 32.Also, at the upper end of the nozzle 14, the nozzle 14 is formed with aslit 35 for bringing the pressurizing fluid supply conduit 18 intocommunication with the nozzle hole of the nozzle through the connectingport 23 when the upper end of the nozzle 14 projects from the hole 33into the connecting port 23 to thereby push up the ball 34. Accordingly,the pressure fluid from the pressurizing fluid conduit 18 is brought bythe upward movement of the nozzle 14 with respect to the head body 22into communication with the nozzle l4 through the slit 35.

A bottle mouth guide 21 that guides the mouth of the bottle 9 to beexamined to the specified position with respect to the nozzle 14 isnormally urged to lie in the lowermost position by springs 36 verticallymovably fitted over the outer circumference of the cylinder portion 220of the head body 22 and disposed in four places in plan view. Thenumeral 36a designates a stud guide for spring 36, and 37 designates astopper for regulating the lowermost position of the bottle mouth guide21 with respect to the head body 22. the stopper being formed like aflange on the outer circumference of the lower head 22(' of the cylinderportion 221:. The bottle mouth guide 21 connects the pressure air supplyconduit for the nozzle upwardly moving means to the position of theportion that maintains air tightness between the guide 21 and the outercircumference of the cylinder portion 221: by means of two O-rings 28and 38 mounted on the inner circumference of the guide 21. And the thusconnected working fluid conduit 20 is brought into communication withthe pressure air inlet port 39 of the cylinder portion 220 only when thebottle mouth guide 21 itself is in its elevated position with respect tothe head body 22 as shown in FIG. 5. But when the guide 21 is in itslowered position as shown in FIG. 6, the guide blocks the port 20a ofthe conduit 20 with the wall of the cylinder portion 220. and thepressure air inlet port 39 is positioned above the upper end of theguide 21 to thereby place the port 39 open to the atmosphere. The nozzle[4 and the guide 21 are at their lower ends in substantially the sameheight as shown in FIG. 4 before they operate. When the nozzle 14 isinserted into the glass bottle 9 by the head body 22 being lowered withrespect to the holder 4. the guide 21. while guiding the mouth of thebottle 9 by means of the lower end guide face 21a, has its guide face21:: pushed over the bottle 9 and is moved upward with respect to thehead body 22, with the result that the port 20a of the pressure airsupply conduit 20 is brought into communication with pressure air inletport 39.

The numeral 40 designates a defect bottle defecting means, and the means40 includes a sleeve 43 which, when the nozzle 14 is moved upwardly tothereby open the pressurizing fluid supply conduit 18, is subjected topressurizing fluid pressure to the nozzle 14 through the slit 35 of thenozzle 14 and moves an actuator 41 up wardly against the action of aspring 42, the actuator projecting its upper end 41:: from the uppersurface of the head body 22. On the other hand, a final stage unit ofthe examination zone is provided with a sensing switch S. which does notoperate when the upper end 410 of the actuator 41 passes in thespecified state of projection but which operates when the end 41aprojects to a lesser degree. The sensing switch S. when the upper end41a of the actuator 41 projects to a lesser degree. electromagneticallyoperates and remotely operates a reject means made up. for example, ofablower 44 disposed alongside of a conveying line extending from theexamination zone of the bottles 9 onward. Of course, this reject meansis specifically set by a timer or the like to operate in timed relationwith the time at which a defect bottle broken in the examination zonereaches the place of the reject means.

A distributing valve 45 common to the aforestated distributing valve 30is disposed midway in the pressurizing fluid supply conduit 18, and thepressurizing fluid supply conduit 18 is connected from the valve 45 to aplurality of head means 1. The valve 45 uses the nonrotatable valve body3012 and the drum 30a of the aforestated valve 30 with the valve 30 andpermits introduction of pressurizing fluid from the valve body 30b. Onthe other hand, the rotation of the drum 30a constantly supplies thepressurizing fluid to all the fluid supply conduits 18 connected to theconnecting ports 46 (FIG. 11) to the head means 1.

The numeral 47 designates a guide means for advancing the head means 1(lowering the head means 1 with respect to the holder 4 in the drawing)to the side of the bottles 9 to be examined while the means I is in theexamination zone 5, and the guide means 47 comprises a bilateral pair ofguide rollers 48 mounted on the head body 22 of the head means 1 on theconveying means 2 and guide rails 49 and 49 disposed in pairs withrespect to each row of the head means 1 and in parallel with theconveying means 2 in such a manner that the guide rollers 48 and 48 ofthe examination head 1 in the examination zone may be rotated in contactwith the guide rails 49 and 49. The guide rails 49 lower the head body22 of head means 1 provided with a pair of rollers 48 with respect tothe holder 4 through a pair of guide rollers 48 rolling respectivelyalong the guide rails 49 in the examination zone 5 while the head 1 isin the examination zone 5. and insert the nozzle 14 into the bottle 9.The numerals 50 and 51 (FIGS. 2 and 8) designate guide rails for guidingthe holder 4. the rails 50 and 51 being laid along the upper and lowerchain paths except for the outer circumference of the sprocket wheels 6and 7 of the chain conveyor 3 of the conveying means 2, and in the upperand lower paths. the upper and lower guide rails 50 and 51 each aredesigned to receive movably each holder 4 from below through guiderollers 52 provided on the side ends of the holder 4.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the character M, designates a common drive motor forthe conveying means 2, conveyor 10a and screw conveyor 10b. and themotor M is related with transmission systems including a transmissionsystem 54 (FIGS. l2 and 13) from a main shaft 53 driven by the motor Mto the conveying means 2. a transmission system 55 to the conveyor 10mand a transmission system 56 to the screw conveyor 10b. and drives theconveying means 2 and the screw conveyor 1012 or conveyor 10a insynchronized relation required therebetween. Also, the conveying means 2is of the construction in which rotation is transmitted from thetransmission system 54 to one sprocket 7 mounted shaft 57 of each chainconveyor 3 of the means 2 and rotation is imparted to a drum 30a incommon use by the distributing valves 30 and 45 by another transmissionsystem originating from the shaft 57 so as to synchronize the movementof the head means 1 with the rotation of the drum 30:1. And thedistributing valves 30 and 45 are positioned midway between the shaft 57of each chain conveyor 3 and another shaft 59 having the other sprocket6 mounted thereon. and the respective supply conduits 18 and 20 from thedistributing valves 30 and 45 to examination heads 1 are radiallyextended from the connecting portions of the drum 30a, for exampleconnected, as shown in FIG. 9, to a plurality of connectors 60 and 61 onthe holder 4 on which the head means 1 are mounted. and are connectedbranchedly from the connectors 60 and 61 to each port of each head meansI mounted on the holder 4. Also, a known flexible tube which has theflexibility to meet a change in connection distance consequent upon themovement by the conveyor means 2 but which does not depend is used inthe supply conduits l8 and 20 from the distributing valves 30 and 45 tothe connectors 60 and 6] on the holder 4.

The numeral 62 designates a guide for the conveyor 100. the guideforming a guide face with a plurality of rotatable rollers 63 and makingit possible for the conveyor a to transport the bottles 9 in theexamination zone smoothly. The numerals 64 and 65 (HO. 3) designate anaccumulator and a reducing valve for establish ing pressure to a desiredpressure disposed in the pressurizing fluid supply conduit 18.respectively. The numerals 66. 67. and 68 respectively designate afilter. a reducing valve. an oiler disposed in the pressure air supplyconduit 20. and the conduit is further provided with a magnet valve 69and a reducing valve 70 for establishing pressure to a desired pressure.The conduits l8 and 20 each are connected to the nonrotatable valve body3011 of the distributing valves 30 and 45 and then through eachconnection port of the drum 30a to the head means l as describedpreviously.

The numeral 7] designates a water feed tank for beforehand keeping thosebottles filled to the full with water which are transported by aconveyor 1] before they are transported to the examination zone 5. thetank 71 being formed on the bottom with numerous small holes (not shown)and being adapted to discharge water in showers over a group of bottles9 to thereby fill the bottles to the full. The numeral 72 designate astorage tank placed below the group of bottles 9 transported and adaptedfor storing water falling from the supply tank 71. and 73 designates aclutch means mounted on the transmission system 54 from the main shaft53 to the conveying means.

The numeral 74 designates a vertically moving means for raising thewhole of the conveying means 2 together with the head means I mountedthereon from the state in FIG. I and restoring the same to its originalposition, and is adapted to be used for purposes other than examination.for example. for purposes of inspection, adjustment and other operationservices. The means 74 comprises a screw shaft 76 threadedly fitted intoa vertically movable member 75 that holds the conveying means 2 and amotor M- that drives the shaft 76, and 77 designates a crossbar securedto the member 75 to which the guide rails 49 are secured and whichsupports the shafts 57 and 59 of the conveying means 2.

Referring now to the operation of the embodiment illustrated. a line ofbottles conveyed by the conveyor ll are first filled with water fallingin showers from the water feed tank 71, and are then conveyed line byline to each conveyor unit 10a, and are spaced apart at the same pitchas the pitch of the head means 1 by screw conveyor lOb at the entranceto the conveyor 10a. and the screw conveyor 10b corrects the positionsof the bottles 9 in such a manner in which the bottles may oppose one byone each of the head means being transported. The bottles 9 that passesthe screw conveyor 10 are then conveyed by the conveyor 10a at the samespeed and in the same direction as the examination heads 1 and guidedone after another to the examination zone 5 while the relation of onebottle 9 to head means I is being maintained. and pass the zone 5.

The head means 1 is caused by one member 49 of the guide means 47 tolower its head body 22 with respect to the holder 4 at the point of timeat which the means 1 is entering the examination zone 5, and. as shownin FIG. 5. On the other hand, the bottle mouth guide 21 is not loweredbut guides by its guide face 21a the bottle 9 to the specified positionwith respect to the nozzle [4 adapted to be inserted into the bottle 9,thus preventing the failure of the nozzle 14 in insertion due tomisregistering of the head means I with the bottle 9. On the other hand.the bottle mouth guide 21 is brought into the same relation with that inwhich the guide 21 moves up and down with respect to the head body 22,and brings the port 20a of the pressure air supply conduit 20 intocommunication with the working fluid inlet port 39 in the cylinderportion 22a of the head body at the point of time at which the nozzle I4is sufficiently inserted.

Since the time at which the means I reached the examination zone 5, thesupply conduit 20 has been opened by the distributing valve 30 andworking fluid is supplied to the cylinder portion 22a through thecommunication of the conduit 20 with the port 39 and the nozzle 14 ismoved upwardly with respect to the head body 22. The packing squeezingmeans 16 as previously stated clamps the annular packing l5 verticallyby such upward movement of the nozzle 14 and bulges the outer diameterof the packing l5 outwardly, and seals the bottle mouth in the state inwhich the nozzle 14 is inserted into the bottle as shown in H0. 5. andas stated. a valve means 19 opens the pressurizing fluid supply conduit18 to the nozzle 14. Because of this. the bottle 9 is filled withpressurizing fluid pressure and loaded inside with pressure.

This operation is started. for example. at the time at which the bottle9 is in the position A shown in FIG. 1, and is thereafter maintained inthe pressurized state for a certain period oftime, for example until itreaches the position B shown in FIG. 1. and hence the bottle is placedunder the specified pressure for a certain period of time e.g. severalseconds so as to judge the quality of the bottle 9 by whether the bottleis broken or not.

When the bottle 9 is broken in the examination zone 5, the bottle mouthguide 21 is relieved of an obstacle constituted by the bottle 9 to thelowering of the guide 21 and is urged by springs 36 to lower around thehead body 22 as shown in FIG. 6. As such lowering of the guide 21 breakscommunication between the pressure air supply conduit 20 and the workingfluid inlet port 39 of the cylinder portion 220 and opens the port 39,the nozzle 14 is urged by a spring 25 to lower with respect to the headbody 22. When the nozzle 14 is lowered. a valve means 19 closes thepressurizing fluid supply conduit 18 to thereby prevent the wastefuldischarge of the pressurizing fluid and loss from the discharge. On theother hand. the packing squeezing means 16 releases clamping of theannular packing 15. Even if the mouth portion of the broken bottle 8 isleft attached to the nozzle 14, the bottle mouth guide 2| is urged bythe springs 36 to push aside the attached broken mouth portion and islowered.

A defect bottle detecting means 40 functions in such a manner that. whenthe bottle 9 is broken. a pressurizing fluid passageway within thenozzle 14 below the valve means 19 is brought into communication withthe atmosphere and an actuator 41 is lowered by a spring 42 and theupper end Mr: of the actuator 4| is reduced in the degree of ofprojection. and accordingly when the head means 1 having the actuator 41passes by the place where a sensing switch S is disposed. the switch Soperates and a blower 44 as a reject means. when the broken bottle 9comes to the position of the blower 44,

operates and rejects the broken bottle from the conveying means 100.Since in the invention the pressurizing fluid is water, fragments of thebroken bottle are prevented from scattering by the tenacity of water andis brought into the state of being collected in a certain range, andaccordingly there is no inconvenience in collecting the fragments.

When the bottle 9 is not broken. the bottle 9 passes by the sensingswitch S with the pressure of the pressurizing fluid kept applied to theactuator 41 in the sleeve 43, and accordingly the switch S does notoperate and consequently the reject means does not operate.

When the head means 1 has passed the position B of the examination zone.supply of pressure air through the supply conduit 20 to the cylinderportion 220 is stopped by the distributing valve 30, and also the headbody 22 is gradually moved upwardly by the guide means 47 with respectto the holder 4. If at this time the bottle 9 has not been broken but isin the state of the nozzle being inserted into the mouth of the bottle 9as shown in H6. 5, the bottle mouth guide 21 is prevented by the bottle9 from lowering with respect to the head body 22, and the pressure airsupply consult 20 is in communication with the pressure air inlet port39 of the cylinder portion 22a but fluid supply in the supply conduit 20is stopped by the distributing valve 30 in prior to the upward movementof the head body 22. On the other hand, when the head body 22 is movedupwardly at the end of the guide means 47 as shown in H6. 1, thepressure air inlet port 39 of the cylinder portion 22a is exposed fromthe upper end of the bottle mouth guide 21 and communicates with theatmosphere. Accordingly. the pressure to move the nozzle 14 upwardlywith respect to the piston portion 14b is lost. and the nozzle 14 islowered by a spring 25 with respect to the head body 22. and a valvemeans 19 closes the pressurizing fluid supply conduit 18, and thepacking squeezing means [6 releases the clamping pressure of the annularpacking l5. and the packing 15 is returned to its original state toremove the sealing of the bottle 9.

Accordingly. when the head body 22 of the head means 1 is moved upwardlywith respect to the holder 4. the nozzle 14 is also moved upwardlytherewith. but the bottle 9 does not follow such upward movement but thenozzle I4 is smoothly drawn out of the examined bottle 9 by the upwardmovement of the head body 22. When the head body 22 is moved up to acertain position. namely when the bottle mouth guide 2] reaches theposition in which the guide 21 takes the lowermost position with respectto the head body 22, the bottle mouth guide 21 also follows the headbody 22 and is brought into its preexamination state in FIG. 4. And theexamined bottle 9 is fed by the conveyor 12 to the next processing step.and the head means 1 is cyclically transported by the conveying means 2to the examination zone 5. the operation above being continuouslyrepeated. Also. the pressure examination described above issimultaneously carried out in a plurality of rows.

Since in the invention the bottle is sealed by circumferentiallyoutwardly expanding the annular packing on the circumference of thenozzle to be inserted into the bottle when the bottle is pressurized byfluid. there is no possibility of a great outer force irrelevant topressure resistance examination being applied to the bottle as was thecase with the conventional type packing which was pressed on the bottlefrom above. and hence a proper pressure resistance examination can bemade under the conditions equal to those under which natural breakdowndue to the content of the bottle occurs. with the result thatreliability on the results of examination is greatly improved.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for examining the inner pressure resistance of a glassbottle. comprising. in combination:

a. a horizontal conveyor means 10a) for horizontally conveying aplurality of rows of glass bottles in succession at equal spaces;

b. an endless conveyor means (2) provided around it with a plurality ofhead holders (4) having a plurality of head assemblies (22) at rightangles to the direction of movement of the endless conveyor means (2) atspaces equal to those of the bottles on the horizontal conveyor means(10a) and adapted to convey the head assemblies (22) horizontally insynchronism with the bottles in an examination zone;

c. head assemblies (22) vertically movably supported in the head holders(4);

(1. guide rails (49) for lowering and conveying the head assemblies (22)in the examination zone;

e. a valve means (19) provided in the head assembly (22). operativelyconnected to a conduit for pressurizcd fluid;

f. a nozzle 14) supported in the head assembly (22) movably with respectto the valve means (19).

g. an annular packing l5) ofa resilient material provided at the lowerend of the nozzle (14);

h. a squeezing means (16, 28. 22c). provided at the lower end of thenozzle (14) and the lower portion of the head means respectively forresiliently deforming the annular packing (15) in a radial direction;

. a pressure air supply conduit for moving the nozzle l4) upwardconnected to the lower portion of the head assembly (22);

j. a valve means for supplying pressure air to the conduit (20);

k. a valve means for supplying pressurizing fluid to the nozzle (14);

1. whereby the annular packing (15) is resiliently deformed in a radialdirection, the valve means (19) is opened, and pressurized fluid forexamination from a conduit (18) connected to the valve means (19) isintroduced into a bottle through the nozzle (14).

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the head assemblies (22)are vertically movably supported by seats (26) on the head holders (4)mounted at equal spaces to endless chains (30) of the endless conveyormeans (2). and springs means (27) are mounted on the seats (26) of thehead holders (4) for urging to the guide rails (49) rollers (48) incontact with the guide rails (49) provided in parallel with thehorizontal conveyor means (10a).

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the head assembly (22)comprises a cylinder portion (22a) composed of an upper head (22b) and alower head (221') having therebetween a piston 14b) of the nozzle (14)and the valve means (19) comprises a springloaded ball (34) in aconnecting port (23) of the pressurizing fluid supply conduit (18)leading to the upper I 1 head (22b) and a hole surrounding the upper endof the nozzle (14) and closed by the ball (34).

4. The device as set forth in claim I. wherein the head assembly (22)further comprises a pressure air inlet port (39) for upward movement ofthe nozzle disposed between the piston 14b) of the nozzle (l4) and thelower head (22); a spring for urging the nozzle (l4) between the pistonH11) and the upper head (22b); and a pressure air port (201:) in abottle mouth guide sleeve (21) slidably mounted on the outercircumference of the head assembly (22 5. The device as set forth inclaim 4. wherein the guide sleeve (21) is slidably mounted on the outercircumference of the head assembly (22) and urged downward by a spring(36). and includes a guide face (21a) for receiving a bottle moutharound the nozzle (l4) and an upper edge for bringing the pressure airinlet port (39) of the head assembly (22) into communication with theatmosphere when a bottle is broken and the guide sleeve (21 is broughtto the lowest position by the spring (36) 6. The device as set forth inclaim 5. which. in order to receive pressurizing fluid from a watersource. further comprises a fixed valve body (301)) mounted in thecenter of the endless conveyor means (2). a distribut- 12 ing valverotating in synchronism with the conveyor means (2) around the valvebody (30b) and the conduits (18) for connecting the distributing valve(45) with the valve means 19) of each head assembly (22).

7. The device as set forth in claim 5, which. in order to receivepressure air from a compressor, further comprises the fixed valve body(30b) mounted in the center of the endless conveyor means (2), adistributing valve (30) rotating in synchronism with the conveyor meansaround the valve body and the conduits (20) for connecting thedistributing valve with the pressure air inlet port (39) of each headassembly (22).

8. The device as set forth in claim 5, which further comprises aspring-loaded indicator (4!) provided within a sleeve (43) communicatingwith a slit- (35) formed at the upper end of the nozzle (14) with theupper end (41a) projecting from the upper head (22b) of the headassembly, (22) and a sensing means (S) mounted fixedly on the terminalportion of the endless conveyor means (2) on the path for the upper end(4111) of the indicator (41), said sensing means (8) being electricallyconnected to a rejecting means for removing a broken bottle.

1. A device for examining the inner pressure resistance of a glassbottle, comprising, in combination: a. a horizontal conveyor means (10a)for horizontally conveying a plurality of rows of glass bottles insuccession at equal spaces; b. an endless conveyor means (2) providedaround it with a plurality of head holders (4) having a plurality ofhead assemblies (22) at right angles to the direction of movement of theendless conveyor means (2) at spaces equal to those of the bottles onthe horizontal conveyor means (10a) and adapted to convey the headassemblies (22) horizontally in synchronism with the bottles in anexamination zone; c. head assemblies (22) vertically movably supportedin the head holders (4); d. guide rails (49) for lowering and conveyingthe head assemblies (22) in the examination zone; e. a valve means (19)provided in the head assembly (22), operatively connected to a conduitfor pressurized fluid; f. a nozzle (14) supported in the head assembly(22) movably with respect to the valve means (19); g. an annular packing(15) of a resilient material provided at the lower end of the nozzle(14); h. a squeezing means (16, 28, 22c), provided at the lower end ofthe nozzle (14) and the lower portion of the head means respectively forresiliently deforming the annular packing (15) in a radial direction; i.a pressure air supply conduit (20) for moving the nozzle (14) upwardconnected to the lower portion of the head assembly (22); j. a valvemeans (30) for supplying pressure air to the conduit (20); k. a valvemeans (45) for supplying pressurizing fluid to the nozzle (14); l.whereby the annular packing (15) is resiliently deformed in a radialdirection, the valve means (19) is opened, and pressurized fluid forexamination from a conduit (18) connected to the valve means (19) isintroduced into a bottle through the nozzle (14).
 2. The device as setforth in claim 1, wherein the head assemblies (22) are verticallymovably supported by seats (26) on the head holders (4) mounted at equalspaces to endless chains (3a) of the endless conveyor means (2), andsprings means (27) are mounted on the seats (26) of the head holders (4)for urging to the guide rails (49) rollers (48) in contact with theguide rails (49) provided in parallel with the horizontal conveyor means(10a).
 3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the head assembly(22) comprises a cylinder portion (22a) composed of an upper head (22b)and a lower head (22c) havinG therebetween a piston (14b) of the nozzle(14) and the valve means (19) comprises a spring-loaded ball (34) in aconnecting port (23) of the pressurizing fluid supply conduit (18)leading to the upper head (22b) and a hole surrounding the upper end ofthe nozzle (14) and closed by the ball (34).
 4. The device as set forthin claim 1, wherein the head assembly (22) further comprises a pressureair inlet port (39) for upward movement of the nozzle disposed betweenthe piston (14b) of the nozzle (14) and the lower head (22c); a spring(25) for urging the nozzle (14) between the piston (14b) and the upperhead (22b); and a pressure air port (20a) in a bottle mouth guide sleeve(21) slidably mounted on the outer circumference of the head assembly(22).
 5. The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the guide sleeve(21) is slidably mounted on the outer circumference of the head assembly(22) and urged downward by a spring (36), and includes a guide face(21a) for receiving a bottle mouth around the nozzle (14) and an upperedge for bringing the pressure air inlet port (39) of the head assembly(22) into communication with the atmosphere when a bottle is broken andthe guide sleeve (21) is brought to the lowest position by the spring(36).
 6. The device as set forth in claim 5, which, in order to receivepressurizing fluid from a water source, further comprises a fixed valvebody (30b) mounted in the center of the endless conveyor means (2), adistributing valve rotating in synchronism with the conveyor means (2)around the valve body (30b) and the conduits (18) for connecting thedistributing valve (45) with the valve means (19) of each head assembly(22).
 7. The device as set forth in claim 5, which, in order to receivepressure air from a compressor, further comprises the fixed valve body(30b) mounted in the center of the endless conveyor means (2), adistributing valve (30) rotating in synchronism with the conveyor meansaround the valve body and the conduits (20) for connecting thedistributing valve with the pressure air inlet port (39) of each headassembly (22).
 8. The device as set forth in claim 5, which furthercomprises a spring-loaded indicator (41) provided within a sleeve (43)communicating with a slit (35) formed at the upper end of the nozzle(14) with the upper end (41a) projecting from the upper head (22b) ofthe head assembly, (22) and a sensing means (S) mounted fixedly on theterminal portion of the endless conveyor means (2) on the path for theupper end (41a) of the indicator (41), said sensing means (S) beingelectrically connected to a rejecting means for removing a brokenbottle.